Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-17
A LOVE FEAST.
The North and the South Join Hands
Over the Bloody Chasm OF 81.
A Touching Scene.
One of the staunchsst OF Federal Gen
erals Participates in Confederate
Memorial Celebration.

STANTON, VA, June 10.-The largest
crowd ever in Stanton assembled to-day
to witness the celebration of the Confed-
crate Memorial Association. The chief
attraction was the presence of General
W. W. Averill of New York, orator of the
occasion. The column was mile long,
consisting of military and civil organi-
cations, etc. In carriage drawn by
four black horses rode Governor
Lee and General AverilI, and as they
passed they were frequently Cheered,
After the parade speaking took place in
the opera house, which was crowded to
suffocation. Introducing General Averill,
Governor Lee referred to their long &C
quaintsnce, beginning when both were
bows at West Point, and to their suisse
quent ass ociation in the old army. Their
commands had met face TO face in battle
during the war th9t followed, an he wa
prepared to testify that no Drawer men
contended on either side than the troop
commanded by that gallant officer whose
warfare was upon men and not upon
helpless women and children. In clos
ing the Governor referred to the oblitera-
ton of the sectional line and the reunion
of the people, as shown by the presence
of the federal General Joining with the
southern veterans in honoring the Con-
federate dead.
General Ayerill was greeted with ring
ing applause as he stepped forward, and
from time to time during his speech
he was enthusiastically cheered. Among
other things General Averill said "Where
once outposts and piCkets were set to
guard my command against the brave
and persistent enemy, now stand alone,
welcome guest. thank God, and you,
for the changed conditions. l have ex-
perienced every phase of war, including
being killed, for have been half killed
twice, but of all triumphs have ever
enjoyed this victory of peace to-day is
the grsndest and most satisfactory" The
speaker sketched the campaigns of
his division during the war, touched
upon the results of the wsr, and
the valor and chivalry of the south,
and related sn aneCdote of President Lin
coin at the time of the latter's visit to the
Army of the Potomac, opposite Fred
ericksburg in 1865. III the course of en-
interview with the President, General
Averill showed him q note from General
FitZhugh Lee in regard TO the wounded
of the Ietter's command.
The speaker continued SIS follows:
Then he asked "Wero you and General
Lee friends?"
Certainly" said 1, ''we always had
been"
"What would happen" he asked, elf
you should meet on the bsttle field"
"One or both of US would be badly
hurt or killed." I said.
The President leaned taat picturesque
and mournful face on his hand, and after q
pause, said with emotion: ooh, my
God, what dreadful thing IS war like
this where personal, friends must Stay each
other"
told him that undoubtedly Lee thought
he was doing his duty and knew that l
was doing mine.
eyes," said Mr. Lincoln, 81 under
stand your feelings, but there are many
who would think that you ought to hate
each other"
Finally he said: General Averill,
wish you would give me this letter Of
Lees"
"Certainly, take it, Mr.. President" 1
replied, "and l have been told by one of
his biographers that he carried the note
in his pocket for long time and would
frequently show it,"
Brief addresses were made by General
I. D. Imboden, Hon. A. j. Mccall of New
York and Carlton Mccarthy of Richmond.
Both Generals Gordon of Georgia and
Jackson of Tennessee were expected, but
neither came.